If I were to choose

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Marius Hancu - 24 Jan 2007 17:28 GMT

Hello:

Let's take this sentence:

If I were to choose between the two cars (because I have money for
only one), I would choose the silver one.

Is there any obligation involved in the "If I were to choose" part of
above?

Say, similar to the "be + infinitive" constructions describing
obligations/duties, e.g.:

I am to clean up my room.

?

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Jeffrey Turner - 24 Jan 2007 17:54 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Is there any obligation involved in the "If I were to choose" part of
> above?

No obligation, it's just a way to express an opinion.

> Say, similar to the "be + infinitive" constructions describing
> obligations/duties, e.g.:
>
> I am to clean up my room.

But "_if_ I am to clean my room," means the decision isn't final and the
obligation is still conditional.

--Jeff

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and civilized man. It is us. -Konrad Lorenz

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Mark Brader - 24 Jan 2007 21:46 GMT

Marius Hancu:

> > Say, similar to the "be + infinitive" constructions describing
> > obligations/duties, e.g.:
> >
> > I am to clean up my room.

Jeffrey Turner:

> But "_if_ I am to clean my room," means the decision isn't final and the
> obligation is still conditional.

Not necessarily. People also use "if" in statements about consequences
of a fact that recently became true. "If I am to clean up my room, then
I must go and get a large broom."

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Mark Brader | "This is a moral that runs at large;
Toronto | Take it. -- You're welcome. -- No extra charge."
msb@vex.net | -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

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contrex - 24 Jan 2007 18:11 GMT

> Let's take this sentence:
>
> If I were to choose between the two cars (because I have money for
> only one), I would choose the silver one.

> Is there any obligation involved in the "If I were to choose" part of
> above?

"If I were" in your example carries no sense of obligation.

To do that, you could write "If I had to choose", or "If I was to
choose", but this latter invites confusion because of the creeping
tendency for people to use the simple past in place of the subjunctive
"If I were".

If you were describing a past obligation, you would generally use the
simple past thus:-

I opened the envelope containing my orders. I was to proceed at once to
Madrid and report to Colonel Gonzalez.

The sergeant gave our instructions. We were to attack at dawn.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

If I were to choose